Venetian Causeway Streetscape work begins; project will last one year

The long-awaited Venetian Islands Streetscape project, which will bring new sidewalks, lighting, crosswalks and landscaping to Rivo Alto, DiLido, San Marino and Belle Isle, has begun.

Construction will last about a year, the construction coordinator told the Belle Isle Residents Association at its annual meeting Wednesday night.

The work on Belle Isle – which is limited to crosswalks, lighting and traffic signals – will come during the last phase of the project, said Juan Pons, the overseer from Miami-Dade County public works.

Work began Monday on Rivo Alto. Workers will make their way west, one island at a time, until the work on San Marino is complete, and then they will tackle Belle Isle.

“Our intent is to work island by island so impact to residents will be minimized,” Pons said.

Pons said there will be impact on traffic — flagmen may be used when traffic on construction days is reduced to one lane. “But at no time will access be closed between Miami and Miami Beach,” he said.

One response to “Venetian Causeway Streetscape work begins; project will last one year”

I wish to urge planners to include safety-improvements for pedestrians at the intersection of 17th Street and West Avenue. Many Belle Isle residents walk to the post office, Epicure, etc., and need to negotiate that intersection. There is no ‘yield to pedestrians in crosswalk’ signage there. Many motorists approaching from the causeway and turning south on West Avenue do not yield.